The Canadian women’s hockey team heading to the upcoming Olympics in Italy will be led by sixteen veterans from the gold-winning team in Beijing. Marie-Philip Poulin, the team captain, holds the record for the most Olympic goals scored, surpassing all male and female hockey players. Poulin aims to secure her fifth Olympic medal in her fifth Games, a feat achieved only by two other players, Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford.
Expressing her gratitude, Poulin stated that representing Team Canada is a tremendous honor, especially in her fifth Olympic appearance, a dream she never thought possible as a young girl. The team roster was revealed at the Canadian Olympic Committee headquarters in Toronto.
Among the returning forwards from the 2022 team are Sarah Fillier, Laura Stacey, Emma Maltais, Sarah Nurse, Blayre Turnbull, Emily Clark, Natalie Spooner, and Brianne Jenner. Both Jenner and Spooner will be participating in their fourth Olympics after winning gold in 2022 and 2014.
Seven players will make their debut in the upcoming Olympics, including Daryl Watts, Kristin O’Neill, Julia Gosling, and Jennifer Gardiner. Poulin has outscored everyone since the inception of the PWHL in 2024, while O’Neill has excelled as a faceoff specialist and fourth-line center.
On the blue line, most members of the 2022 team will return, including Renata Fast, Erin Ambrose, Jocelyne Larocque, Ella Shelton, and Claire Thompson. Furthermore, Sophie Jaques and Kati Tabin will be making their Olympic debut, potentially forming pairs from their PWHL experience.
In goal, Ann-Renée Desbiens is expected to start, backed by Emerance Maschmeyer and newcomer Kayle Osborne. The final selection process for the Canadian team was challenging, with the squad being narrowed down from 30 athletes who trained together during the season.
Unlike previous years of centralization, the team was assembled through three training camps held in Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal last fall. Performance in the Rivalry Series games against the United States and the PWHL also influenced player selections.
The defensive lineup saw surprises with the exclusion of Chloe Primerano, while Micah Zandee-Hart and Nicole Gosling were among the last cuts. The forward line had contenders like Caitlin Kraemer, Danielle Serdachny, and Hannah Miller, with potential replacements in case of injuries.
All 23 players selected for the Canadian team play in the PWHL, contrasting with the American team that includes seven college players. The tournament will kick off on Feb. 5 against Finland, with Group A also featuring the United States, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. The gold-medal game is scheduled for Feb. 19, with Canada aiming to add to its five Olympic gold medals in women’s hockey.